36Kr Daily Hot List - 2026-03-09

36Kr Daily Hot List for 2026-03-09. Tech and business news explained simply.

An AI company got nearly 100 million yuan in funding and switched to making a lobster helper in just two weeks

A tech company quickly made a new AI tool that acts like a little lobster on your computer to help with work, and it matters because it shows how fast AI can now create useful tools that save people time.

Former Vivo star product manager starts AI fashion hardware company, raises over $140 million

A famous phone designer who helped make popular Vivo phones has started her own company making smart mirrors and fashion gadgets with AI, and big investors just gave her over $140 million because they believe AI fashion tech is the next big thing.

Smart driverless boats backed by Li Zexiang and Alibaba just got the biggest funding round ever for water self-driving tech, now worth nearly 20 billion yuan

A company making smart boats that can drive themselves on water just got a huge pile of money from investors because there's a big need for these boats to do jobs like cleaning rivers and giving tours, since it's getting harder to find people willing to do those jobs and these boats can work more cheaply and safely.

Chinese university students start company to build self-learning platform for AI assistants, get funding from big investors

Some smart college graduates made a tool that helps AI assistants remember what they've done before so they get better at their jobs over time, and big money people liked the idea enough to invest in it.

MetaNovas gets two rounds of funding to use AI 'armies' for faster new material development

A company called MetaNovas got more money from investors to use smart computer programs that act like teams of experts to discover new materials much faster than the old trial-and-error method, which means we could get better products like cosmetics or medical supplies to market quicker and cheaper.

Shenzhen offers big money to encourage free 'AI lobster' projects, Apple shuffles its top bosses, and a sushi chain responds to a customer finding parasite eggs in tuna.

A district in Shenzhen is thinking about giving up to 2 million yuan to support free AI tools called 'lobsters' to boost local tech, Apple changed some of its top executives to keep things running smoothly, and a sushi restaurant chain is investigating after a customer said they found parasite eggs in their tuna, which matters because it shows how cities are pushing new tech, big companies adjust to stay on top, and food safety is always a big deal for customers.

Where Tsinghua University graduates go: Only 8.5% go abroad, Huawei and ByteDance are the biggest winners

A new report shows most Tsinghua University graduates now stay in China to work at big tech companies like Huawei and ByteDance or in important national industries like manufacturing and defense, instead of going abroad or just staying in Beijing, which matters because it shows China's top talent is staying home to build up key parts of the country's economy and technology.

College kid builds AI projects in 10 days, gets $3 million investment in 24 hours, becomes CEO from senior project

A college student made two popular AI tools in just 10 days each using new coding methods, and a big investor liked his ideas so much he gave him $3 million right away to start a company - this shows how regular people with good ideas can now build big things fast with AI tools.

Long video platforms are struggling to survive in the AI era

Long video streaming services like iQiyi and Tencent Video are losing money and viewers because people aren't as interested in their long TV shows anymore, while short videos and AI-made content are becoming more popular.

Which company will be the next big winner in the AI power grid race?

AI needs a lot of electricity to run, so companies that build power grids and equipment are getting tons of business and their stock prices are going up because everyone needs more power for AI.

China's sports chief: Bring in top international events, grow our own sports brands

China's sports boss said they'll bring in big international competitions while also helping homegrown sports events grow, so regular folks can enjoy more exciting sports to watch and play.

China's winter sports economy tops 1 trillion yuan for the first time in 2025

China's winter sports industry has really taken off - so many people are skiing, ice skating, and buying winter gear that the whole winter sports economy just passed the 1 trillion yuan mark for the first time, which is a big deal because it shows how popular winter activities have become and creates lots of jobs and business opportunities.

Sports chief says people are spending more on sports activities

The head of China's sports department announced that by 2025, working-age adults will spend about 2,500 yuan each on sports stuff like gym memberships or equipment, which is 38% more than in 2020, showing that more people are getting active and investing in their health.

Taobao Flash Sale partners with 2026 F1 China Grand Prix, invites delivery riders to watch the race

Taobao's quick-sale section teamed up with the 2026 Formula 1 race in China and is bringing over 20 delivery riders to watch the final race, showing appreciation for these everyday workers who keep our cities running.

Agriculture Minister says China must ensure stable food supply and help farmers earn more

China's top agriculture official said the country will focus on growing enough food safely and using better farming methods so farmers can make more money, because having enough affordable food keeps people healthy and the country stable.